Josh McCown, New York Jets Agree to 1-Year Contract After 2 Seasons with Browns

Josh McCown has suited up for seven teams in his NFL career, and he’ll make it eight this fall after reportedly latching on with the New York Jets on Monday.

According to McCown’s agent, Mike McCartney, he’s signing a one-year deal with the Jets. Albert Breer of NFL.com passed along the details:

McCown, 37, spent the last two years of his career with the Cleveland Browns. Those campaigns were both marred by injuries, but he managed to post some solid numbers over the course of eight starts in 2015.

During that season, McCown completed 63.7 percent of his passes for 2,109 yards, 12 touchdowns and four interceptions.

However, his efficiency plummeted in five appearances—including three starts—last year. All told, McCown completed 54.5 percent of his passes for 1,100 yards, six touchdowns and six picks.

As those numbers indicate, McCown is best served as a stopgap solution and backup at this point in his career. And as Browns head coach Hue Jackson told reporters in January, McCown has the aptitude to eventually work his way onto the sidelines in a different capacity.

“Oh, I know he could coach,” Jackson said, per WKYC’s Matthew Florjancic. “There is no question. If he wanted to, I told him already if he wanted to coach, he could coach for me whenever he wants because he is made of the right stuff. He knows what it takes to play and win in this league. He is going to be a rising star in this profession if that is what he chooses to do.”

Based on that praise, McCown—at a bare minimum—should bring loads of knowledge to the meeting room.

The move doesn’t exactly clear up the quarterback position for the Jets, however, who currently also have Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg on the roster. It’s unclear which of those three players will be the front-runner to earn a starting gig.

Additionally, the Jets could use a draft pick to select a quarterback. So McCown could be a stopgap starter, or he may end up serving as a veteran backup. A lot is left to be resolved at quarterback for the Jets.